The Lady Raider’s Volleyball team entered the 2023 season ranked #3 by the Midco Sports SD Class A Volleyball Media Poll. Last year the volleyball team ended the season playing in the State Tournament, bringing home 7th place and ending the season with a 32-5 record. The team won the Southeast South Dakota Conference (SESD) and the Little Missouri Valley Conference (LMVC) championships.

The team has been working hard in the offseason. The girls attended the Harrisburg team camp and sent 10 girls and coaches to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (UNL) team camp. At the UNL camp the girls were coached by a club coach and Husker volleyball player, Becca Alec. It was a unique experience for the team and coaches. It opened the players’ eyes to the fact that even at the college level, fundamentals were still the key to success on the court.

The volleyball team is coached by Head Coach Stacey Knebel who has coached for 23 years, and assistant coaches Kelsey DeBey and Lauren Bastemeyer. Team managers are Lauren Von Eschen and Kennedi Cuka. The Raider’s return with eight seniors Macy Koupal, Madi Knebel, Shona Kocer, Kya Kjeldgaard, Mckenzie Fuchs, Abriana Leines, Sabrina Kreber and Aubrey Medricky. There are no juniors. Sophomores include Ashlyn Koupal, Ali Myer, Brylie Link, Libby Kotab, Laken Edoff, Rico Fischer, and Shana Lensing. There are eight incoming freshman Ashton Bruguier, Braxton Nedved, Brianna Fuchs, Emma Kreeger, Hayden Fischer, Katrina Zephier, Mateya Bruguier and Raven Medricky. Three 8th graders, Hannah Holzbauer, Kylin Insko and Jazlyn Lhotak have also been pulled up to join the team.

The girls start out the season by making both individual and team goals. This year’s team goals include getting better every match, being conference champions, and playing in the state tournament. The team is returning some key players from last year. Macy Koupal returns as the setter. She made the State Volleyball All-Tournament team and reached the milestone of 2,000 career assists. Madi Knebel will lead the team on defense and has really improved on her ability to read the ball to better position herself. Kya Kjeldgaard is an overall player to watch. She is a great outside hitter and is important to the team’s defense. Shona Kocer is a great blocker and will play a big leadership role at the net. Up and coming players to watch for this season are Aubrey Medricky who will be hitting right side for the Raiders and playing a lot of defense. Raven Medricky will be looked to for her blocking and middle hitting skills. Ashlyn Koupal is a good outside hitter with good all-around skills.

Coach Knebel sees the most intense games of the regular season being against Platte/Geddes which is coming up shortly after Labor Day and Warner who they will face at the Parkston tournament. As the head coach, Knebel looks forward most to making memories with the team and watching the girls meet their team and personal goals. She believes that having high expectations, holding the girls accountable, practicing the fundamentals daily and allowing the girls to lead their own team are what is needed to build a successful program.